A large crane lifts a rail car in the air after removing it from the position of the crash in Paulsboro, N.J. 12.11.12

Schools in the borough had been closed since the Nov. 30 train derailment released noxious chemical fumes into the air and into the waters of Mantua Creek.

On Friday, a week after they were evacuated from their homes and put up in cramped hotel rooms, the last residents were allowed back into their homes near the derailment site.

With Christmas coming, certainly this return to normalcy couldn't be more welcome to the people of Paulsboro.

But now that the emergency react and protect stage of this train crash is ended, the stage of truly getting to the bottom of things has come. Exactly what went wrong and why did it go wrong? What will be the long-term environmental impact, if any, of this derailment and chemical release? And, most importantly, what will be done to ensure this doesn't happen again?

After all, the bridge where this train derailment happened was the site of another derailment in 2009 when the bridge collapsed and had to be rebuilt. Two major accidents in three years at the same spot begs certain questions and a close look.

With that recent history, and with so much industry along the Delaware River in this part of Gloucester County, and so many trains transporting substances that are potentially dangerous, it is critical that what happened in Paulsboro isn't quickly chalked up to being an isolated event and largely forgotten once the whys have been answered.

Residents who returned home Friday, while glad to escape the confines of cramped hotel rooms, also are left with gnawing doubts as to what the effects on their health might be. Borough residents who weren't evacuated and have remained in town since the crash also need more reassurance in the weeks and months to come.

Conrail and the Coast Guard, which is responsible for the cleanup, as well as borough, county and state officials, must keep residents informed about every finding of consequence. Anger over what has happened, which boiled over at one recent public meeting, won't dissipate overnight. But, if officials truly continue to answer all questions and listen to all complaints, residents' frustrations will wane.

The unvarnished truth as to specifically what went wrong, and what lingering impact there could be from it; that's what Paulsboro residents deserve. Moreover, though, they deserve changes, be it in procedures, inspections, bridge and track design, whatever, to prevent another potentially disastrous rail accident.

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WHERE WE STAND: Paulsboro residents deserve all the details

Finally, life is getting back to normal in Paulsboro. Schools in the borough had been closed since the Nov. 30 train derailment released noxious chemical fumes into the air and into the waters of